Automatic feeding mechanism.



R. G. CLARK.

AUTOMATIC FEEDING MECHANISM.

AFPucATloN FILED DEC. s. 1913.

Patente Feb. l, MEG

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

R. Gx CLARK.

AUTOMATIC FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION man Dic. 9A 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@M y m R. CLARK.

AUTQMATIC FEEDiNG MECHMHSM.

MPL10/mon man Die. 9. 191s.

5 SHEETS-SHEET Ik R. G. CLARK.

MATOMATIC FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION mao Drama, ma.

l mam mmm im. mm

5 SHEETS-335m' 5.

nonnen? c. CLARK, or New Yoan, N. Y.

AUTOMA'lCIC FELEDNG MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentes heb. i, raie.

Application filed December 9, 1913..' A Serial No. 805,515.

To @ZZ iii-.320m it may concer/n Be it known that I, ROBERT G. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, -and resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Automatic Feeding Mechanism, of`wliich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic feeding mechanism for feeding blanks to a machine for operating upon. the same.

As an illustration of one of the many uses to which this invention may be put, a can body formingl machine may be mentioned with which my improved feeding` Vmechanism may be used for feeding theV metal blanks to the machine which forms the same into the can bodies.

T he obj ect of the invention is to provide asiniple mechanism which shall be positivev in its action and capable of feeding the and described a feeding mechanism adapted.

particularly for feeding metal blanks to can body formino; machine.

In the. drawings like parts in the several views have been given the same reference numerals, the `parts of the can body forming' machine as well as the operating mechanism. having; been omitted, as it will be understood that the particular construction of the same is not-essential to the features thisinvention, which may be adapted for vuse in connection with various machines of 'this nature.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an auto'- matic feedingn mechanism attached to a can body forming machine, partly' broken away in order to show the construction and arrangement. Fig. 2 is alside. View from the lower side of i, partly in section and drawn to a somewhat smaller scale- Fig. 3 is a plan View of Fig. 2. Fig. i is..an enlarged side view simil-ar to Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail View, partly in section. Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive are diagrammatic views showing successive positions of the mechanism duringthe operation of feeding the blanks.

it will be understood that this mechanism may be arranged to be mounted'upon and operated from the can body machine with which it is used. One of the end supports of the machine is shown l and a portion of the table at 2. The feed bars 8 and 4 of the can body machine are attached to and operated by the cross head 5 and the cross head pin 6, by means of which the link 7, connected by the crank pin 8 to the crank disk 9 upon a crank shaft 10 (see Fig. 2), which shaft is a part of the driving mechanism of the machine, thus avoiding the necessity of providing a separate operating means for the latter.

feed dog block 11 is mounted upon the feed bar 3 and a second feed dogblock 12 is similarly mounted upon the feed bar 4. The feed dog 13 is pivotally mounted upon the feed dog 'block 11 and a second feed dop,r 14

is similarly mounted' upon the feed dog block 12, as shown in Fig. 1. The feed dog 13 is provided with an extension or linger 13 extendingu at right angles from the inner end thereof and the feed dog 14 is likewise provided with a similar linger 14.

A pin 15, extending outwardly from the feed dog block 11, engages in a slot in the slide 16, which is slidably mounted in a supp'ort block 17 and cap 18, both being,y mounted upon the table 2 outside of the feed bar 3.

A second support block 19 is also mounted upon the table 2 outside of the feed bar 4. rlhese blocks support the blanks, as will be described more fully hereinafter. A rear stop pin 20 is mounted in the sup port block and cap 17-18 and a second rear stop 21 is similarly mounted in the support block 19. A frontF stop 22 is mounted. vupon a cross bar 23 which is attached to the supports 24- and 25 mounted upon the table 2. Side stops 26 and 27 are respectively mounted upon theguides 28 and 29 on opposite sides of the blanks 30. These lside guides 28 and 29 are adjustably secured to the table 2 so that the same may be moved inward or outward to accommodate blanks of different` lenvths. I

roller A31 is carried upon thepin 32 in position to be engaged by the slide 16, as

Will b e explained more fully hereinafter. The pm 32 is mounted upon one end of the lever 33, which is pivoted at 31 and has its opposite end 'formed to engage one end of the plunger 35 which is pivotally mounted thereupon at 36, the lever and plunger 35 being carried by thu bracket 37 mounted upon the table 2. A set screw 3S in the bracket 37 limits the upward travel of the plunger At the lower end of the plunger 35 is mounted a. member 39 which, on account of its peculiar function and action, described more fully hereinafter. may be designated a picker and in connection with which a second member 40, which is somewhat smaller so as to form a. shoulder, is mounted. The' picker members 39 and 40 are attached to the plunger 35 by means of a screw l1. A stop or latch 42 is pivotally mounted at 43 upon the bracket 37. the lower end of the latch being normally held in position against the blanks by means of the spring 44 attached at its upper end to a pin -l in the upper end of the latch and at its lower cnd to a pin 46 in the plunger 35. as shown in Fig. 1. .\n adjusting screw 47 in the lever is positioned to engage a lug or projection 35 from the plunger when the lever 33 is operated. A flat spring i8 is mounted upon the table. 2 and is bent upwardly at one end in a position to engage and raise the, feed dog 13. vided for raising the feed dog 14:. the pur' pose of which `will appear hereinafter. Springs 51 and 52 may be mounted upon the cross bar 23 in position to engage the blanks as the same are fed from the pile, as Shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive. and feed bar dogs 53 on the feed bars 3 and l, are arranged tovadvancc the blanks" successively# through the successive operations of the machine thereupon.

lVhen the machineA is in operation the feed bars 3 and 4 are reeiprocat-ed by the crank shaft 10 and mechanism already de scribed. Assuming the parts to stand in the position shown in Fig. 6, the feed bar 3 carrying the block 11 and pin 15, moves to the left until the pin 11 engages the end of the slot in the slide 1G and then carriesv the slide 16 under the roll 31, causing the same and the end 32 of the lever 33t to be raised as the inclined portion of the slide 16v passes under the roll 31, until the same rests upon the upper flat edge of the slide 16. This movement carries the opposite end.of the lever 33 and the plunger 35 downwardly therewith, the upper end of the. plunger 35 sliding upon the front vertical edge of the bracket 37, and! causes the picker 39 to engage one-,edge of the lower blank 30 and buckle'the same downwardly at the center to the position shown in Fig. 7. The latch 42 then engages over the edge of the blank, by

A similar spring 49 is proreason of the action of the spring el, and holds the same separated from the pile of blanks while the movement of the lever 33 just described then causes the adjusting screw 47' to engage the lug 35 on the upper end of the plunger 35, causing the picker 39 to be disengaged from the blank.

wWhile the above operation is taking place the feeding dogs 13 and 1-1 have been carried back by the movement of the blocks 11 and 12 upon which they are pivotally mounted and are engaged by the. springs 48 and 49 and raised into position so that as the feed bar and att-ched parts are then moved in the opposite direction the lingers 13 and 11 on the feed dogs 13 and 14, respectively, pass above the upper surface of the blank 30 (the blank meantime being held by the latch 42) and cause the same to be separated from the pile of blanks 30 until the entire central portion thereof is buckled upon the central support 54 sufficient to clear the lower end of the front stop 22, as shown in Fig. 8. The further movement of the feed bar 3 to the right causes the blank 30 to be advanced by the feed dogs 13 land 1-1 until the same drops otl' from the end of the supports 1S and 19 upon the feed bars 3 and l. passingunderthe holding springs 51 and 52. from which positionitisadvanccd by the. feed bar dogs 53 to the machine in the usual manner. (Fig. 9.) Y

While the. feed bar 3 and att-achedparts are movingto the right and performing the operation just described, the slide 16 remains stationary, holding the lever 33 and the plunger 35 until the pin 15 engages the opposite end of the slot in the slide 16. As soon as this occurs the slide 16 is moved to the' right, causing the lever 33 and the plunger 35 to be returned to their former positions, when thel operation just described is repeated and the next succeeding blank is fed in the same manner. The picker 39-10 carried by the plunger 35 may be of any suitable construction adapted to engage the edge of the blank and buckle the same downwardly in the manner described. A simple construction which possesses some advantages consists in attaching two hardened steel rolls, one slightly smaller in diameter than the other to the plun er These rolls areshown in detail in Pig. 5, from which itwill be noted that roll 39 is under-cut or concavcd on one side which enables the same to more readily and positively engage or pick the` blank from the pi e. A further advantage of this constructi( n is that as one portion of the roll becoines worn the same may be turned slightly to' present a new operating face, or the'same m'ay be readily replaced.

It will be noted that the operation of the feeding mechanism just described presents several peculiar features, among which may be mentioned the buckling of one edge of the blank away from the pile, the separation and buckling downwardly ot the central portion of the blank, freeing the same from the stop, and sliding the blank from under the pile into position to be engaged by the Jfeed bars,

as well as other features of construction, suoli as the arrangement of the spring between the plunger and latch, which enables which it is desired toteed blanks successively thereto.

' .As many changes could be made in the Y companying drawings abovev construction and many apparently widely dillerent embodiments of my invention designed without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims, it is intended thatyall matter herein contained oi" described or shown in the acshall be interpreted 'as illustrative merely of an operative eine bodiment of my invention and not in a limitin sense.

What l claim is z- 1. Feeding mechanism for blanks, coniprising, in combination, means tor engaging and buckling one edge ot the blank away from the adjacent blanks in the pile, said means operating transversely to the plane of the blank, means for separating the opposite edge of said blank from thepile, and means for advancing the blank.

2. Feeding mechanism for blanks, coinpi'ising, in combination, means-tor engaging and buckling one edge ofthe blank away from the adjacent blanks in the pile, said means operating transversely to the plane of the blank, means for separating the opposite edge of said blank from thel pile, and means for advancing the blank, said several means operating successively and automatically upon each of the successive blanks in the pile. prising, in combination, means Jfor buckling one edge of the blank away from the adjacent-blanks in the pile, means for holding the edge of blank after buckling, means for separating said blank from the pile, and means for advancing the blank.

4. Feeding mechanism for blanks, coinprising, in combination, means for engaging and buckling the central portion of' one edge of the blank away from the adjacent blanks in the pile, said means operating transversely to the plane of the blank, means for separating the opposite edge of said blank from the pile, and means for advancing the blank.

' edge of the blank to 3. Feeding mechanism for blanks, com- -5. Feeding mechanism for blanks, eem

prising, in combination, means for engaging and buckling one edge of the bottom blank awa)v Jfrom the adjacent blanks in the pile, said means operating transversely to the planeot the blank, means for separating the opposite edge of said blank from the pile, and means for advancing the blank.

(3. Feeding mechanism i'or blanks, com,- prising, in combination, means for engaging and buckling one edge ot' the bottom blank away from the adjacent blanks in the pile, said means operating transversely to the plane ot' the blank, means toi' separating the opposite edge otsaid blank from the pile, and means for sliding said blank transversely from under the pile.

7. Feeding mechanism for blanks, comprising, in combination, a plunger having a portion adapted to engage one edge of a blank, means for moving said plunger transvei'sely'to the plane of the blank causing one be buckled away trom the adjacent blanks in the pile, means or sejiarating said blank from the pile, `and means for advancing the blank.

8. Feeding mechanism for blanks, conr prising, in combination, a pivotally mounted plunger having a portion adapted to engage one odge of a blank, means for moving sai plunger transversely to the plane of the blank causing one. edge ot the blank to be buckled away from the adjacent'blanks in the pile, means for separating said blank from the pile, and means for advancing the blank.

9. Feeding mechanism for blanks, comprising, in combination, a pivotally mounted plunger having a portion adapted to engage and buckle one edge of a blank, a latch adapted for holding the edge of the blank after buckling, ay spring operatively connected to said plunger and latch, means for moving saidv plunger transversely to the plane oi' the blank causing one edge of the blank to be buckled away from the adjacent blanks in the pile, means for separating said blank from the pile, and means tor advancing the blank.

10. Feeding mechanisml for blanks, coinprising, in combination, ay plunger having a portion adapted to engage one edge of aoperate said lever and to move said plunger one edge of a transversely to the plane of the blank causing one edge of the blank to be buckled away from the adjacent blanks in the pile, means for separating said blank from the pile, and means for advancing the blank.

l2. Feed mechanism forblanks, comprising, in combination, a plunger having a portion adapted to engage one edge of a blank, a. lever upon which said plunger is mounted, a guide for said plunger, means for operating said lever and plunger in conjunction with said guide to move said plunger transversely to the plane of the blank causing one edge of the blank to be buckled away from the adjacent lblanks in the pile, means for separating said blank from the pile, and means for advancing the blank.

13. Feeding mechanism for blanks, `comn'ising, in combination, a plunger having a. portion adapted to engage one edge of a blank, `a lever upon which said plunger is pivotally mounted, means-for operating said lever and plunger to cause the plunger to engage and buckle one edge of a blank away from the adjacent blanks in a pile, means for releasing said plunger from the blank, means for separating the blank from the pile, and means for advancing the blank.

14. Feeding mechanism for blanks, comprising, in combination, a plunger having a portion adapted to engage one edge. of a blank, a lever upon which said plunger is pivotally mounted, means for operating said lever and plunger to cause the plunger to engage and buckle one edge of a blank away from theI adjacent blanks in a pile, means carried by said lever adapted to engage and release said plunger from the blank, means for separating the blank from the pile, and means for advancing the blank.

15. Feeding mechanism for blanks, comprising, in combination, portion adapted to engage one edge of a blank, a lever upon which said pivotally mounted, a slide adapted to operate said lever, means for imparting a reciprocating movement to said slide, whereby said plungerv is caused to engage and buckle blank away from the adjacent a y plunger having aplunger is blanks in a pile, means for releasing said plunger from the blank, means for separating the blank from the pile, and means for advancing the blank.

16. Feeding mechanism for blanks, comprising, in combination, a plunger having a portion adapted to engage one edge of a blank, a lever upon which said plunger is pivotally mounted, a slide adapted to operate said lever, means for imparting an intermittent reciprocating movement to said slide, whereby said plunger is caused to engage and buckle one edge of a blank away from the adjacent blanks in a pile, means for releasing said plunger from the blank, means for separating the blank from the pile, and means for advancing the blank.

17. Feeding mechanism for blanks, comprising, in combination, a plunger :having a portion adapted to engage one y.edge/"of a blank, a lever upon which saidfplunger is pivotally mounted, a slide adapted to operate said lever, said slide being provided with a slot, a movable member adapted to engage in said slot whereby an intermittent reciproeating movement is imparted" thereto and said plunger is caused to engage and buckle one edge of a blank away fromfthe adjacent blanks in a pile, means for releasing/'said plunger from the blank, means for separating the blank from the pile, and mea/ns for advancing the blank.

18. Feeding mechanism for blanks, comprising, in combination, means for buckling, 1

one edge of a blank away from the adjacent blanks in the pile, feed dogs adapted to engage above said buckled edge and separate the blank from the pile and to advance the same, resilient members positioned in the path of said feed dogs adapted to raise the same to their operative position upon the return movement, and means for imparting a reciprocating movement to said feed dogs. Signed at the city, county and State of New York, this 3d day of December, 1913.

ROBERT G. CLARK. Witnesses:

Lewis J. DooLrrrLr, HENRY S. BARTON. 

